Nahdlatul Ulama chairman elect Said Agil Siradj on Saturday responded his victory by vowing not to let NU be interfered by the government.

“Indeed, the President called me several days before this congress. But it was not even close to be called as an intervention,” he told the press shortly after the voting.

Said also denied he would use his chairmanship as a political vehicle to run for presidential election.

“Any proposal to run for president or vice president candidate will not be interesting for me. I promise. No matter who is asking me [to run for presidential election],“ he said.

Asked about how he would bring NU followers to treat sects like Ahmadiyah, Said said the sect would stay harmful for Islam.

“There’s already been rules about Ahmadiyah, and NU has made its decision that Ahamdiyah is a sect that NU defies,” he said.

Slamet Effendy Yusuf, who lost the two-horse race for Said, meanwhile, said that he was ready to help Said to develop NU. “Pak Said has said he would invite me [to be involved in the organizational committee],“ he said.

Slamet who was a former legislator from the Golkar Party denied that he had gained support from the party. “No. NU is not a place for practical politics,” he said.